~Scroll 13~
The Grass-Nin looked down at the blonde, who looked to be struggling just to stay on his feet. It was then he truly realized who the blonde Genin was.
Sasuke could only look at his dobe, who was looking at him with the same sad and yet disappointed look… but there was something else laying beneath those mesmerizing amethyst orbs that he could not identify.
I have never pegged you as an idiot and a coward, Sasuke. The blonde's words echoed in the Uchiha's head.
"YAAAH!" Naruto's startled cries snapped the raven-haired teen from his daze.
Onyx black orbs grew wide when he saw the Grass-Nin using his tongue to capture his blonde.
"UNHAND ME, ONI!" Naruto shouted as he struggled to break free from the foul creature's hold.
~NARUTO-DONO!~ Ka'a roared as he slowly poured more of his youki into his Host's already exhausted chakra nodes. It was a dangerous move, especially with his Jailer on the verge of a shut down, but being left in this hideous monster's clutches was even more dangerous.
"Heh heh…" The Grass-Nin darkly chuckled, "The brat of the Nine Tails is still alive and kicking!"
The blonde gasped in shock.
No one outside of Konoha knew who he was, and yet this oni did. It meant only one thing… this monster was once a citizen of Konoha.
"Traitor!" The young houshi quietly hissed, which darkly amused the serpent monster.
How fascinating… The oni purred, Not only did he guess that I was once a citizen of this pathetic village… His hands flurried together into a series of hand seals while his tongue moved, lifting the blonde's top and mesh shirt up, … the demon fox and Naruto's native chakra and psyche have apparently gone from enmity and opposition to coexistence… and are on the brink of symbiosis! An amazing development! And… there's the proof. The spell that seals the monster within appears on his skin like a tattoo… well, I can't have him ruin my plans… a pity…
"A Five-Pronged Spell!" He shouted as he slammed his hand with more force than necessary into the blonde's stomach, placing his own tainted seal over the petite Genin's pure one.
Naruto let out a heart-filled agonizing howl as the traitor's taint overwhelmed his senses.
Slowly his beautiful amethyst began to fade to his usual oceanic sapphire blue orbs. Then slowly those vibrant gems began to dull and glaze over as his body shut down on itself in attempts to heal from the blonde's numerous injuries and loss of chakra. Then the petite houshi knew nothing as darkness claimed him.
"Sasuke! Naruto needs you!" Sakura screamed, horrified that her one-time crush had yet taken action.
The Grass-Nin just chuckled as he rummaged through the small teen's pouch, pulling out their Heaven Scroll. With their scroll in hand, he carelessly tossed the blonde over his shoulder.
He's bound to fall! Sakura gasped when she realized that her otouto had done nothing to save himself. "Naruto!"
She let loose a kunai. It lodged itself into the tree, precariously holding the blonde high up in the tree by his top.
"SASUKE!" Sakura snapped when the raven-haired teen still had done nothing but stand there, "SNAP OUT OF IT! Naruto was terrified of that man! But he still faced him! Naruto knew that man was dangerous! But he still fought him! Naruto's no coward!"
The raven-haired teen closed his eyes as he tried to block out his teammate. In his mind, he saw an imposing shadow with glowing Sharingan eyes glaring down on him. Baby brother, you're pathetic. If you want to kill me, settle for hating me until you can! Hate me… and live. Like the coward you are! Clinging to life… without honor! The words had plagued his thoughts, his dreams and his life.
"NO!" Sasuke snarled as he opened his Sharingan Eyes, feeling something clicking in his mind.
The Grass-Nin smirked. Heh heh… it appears that the blood of his ancestors is rising up in this one, demanding action. He wiped the blood from his arm, canceling his summons. We'll take our time, so you can show me all your moves!
Sasuke, in a flash, was armed with five kunai and a wind-blade. I've been living with the hope of one day killing my older brother. I thought it was the most important thing… but maybe I'm the one who's been the dunce all this time! The Uchiha leapt into the air. …because someone who can't even stand up and do what has to be done at a time like this… wouldn't stand a chance in a fight against… Him!
The teen released four kunai at the Grass-Nin, who easily dodged the assault.
His right hand and foot hooked around a tree.
I see him!
The wind-blade was released.
The Grass-Nin leapt out of the way by a hair's breath.
Sasuke grabbed the kunai clutched between his teeth, infusing it with chakra fire and released it.
Not bad! The shinobi purred as he dodged the kunai, The way he anticipates my every move… the accuracy of his targeting… he sees me!
Sasuke held onto the tree as an anchor while holding onto an invisible string with his teeth.
String? The Grass-Nin turned around in time to see the wind-blade coming back, A Sharingan 'windmill' - a three-prong attack!
SMAT
The clearing echoed of a blade against human flesh.
He flawlessly perceived my escape route and struck along a path I didn't see myself… The Grass-Nin turned around with the wind-blade caught between his teeth. Suddenly his eyes grew wide as he recognized the sign of the Tiger that the young teen held with the barely visible string still between the teen's teeth. He means to use the Art of Fire - Dragon Flame Technique!
Without warning, the string caught on fire, racing down the path of least resistance.
The Grass-Nin had no time to escape as the massive fire ball engulfed his face.
"That one so young should have such mastery of the Sharingan Mirror Eye power…!" The Grass-Nin cooed, completely un-phased at the fact that half of his face was burnt beyond recognized and his flesh was flaking away, "Truly, a worthy successor to the honored name of Clan Uchiha! In fact, I believe… I want you, after all…!"
"Sasuke…!" Sakura cried as she rushed to the raven-haired youth's side.
The Grass-Nin then brushed his hand against his hiate-ate, revealing his true allegiance… Oto!
"It's marvelous fun, having you show me all your tricks!"
The remaining Konoha Team 7 members were paralyzed once more by the Oto-monster's basilisk-like gaze.
"You really are his brother, aren't you? You can see - and conceal - things with those eyes of yours that Itachi himself never dreamed of!"
Sasuke's eyes grew wide as he attempted to break from the Oto's spell. This man knew his brother, his enemy. He had to know what this shinobi knew of his brother!
"Just who the hell are you?" Sasuke snarled.
"I'm Orochimaru, the Giant Snake. If you'd ever like a rematch…" Orochimaru spoke as he burned their Heaven Scroll, "then pass this exam as quickly as you can!"
No! The scroll! Sakura gasped.
"I'll see you again, if you manage to defeat the Oto-Nin who answer to me."
"Wh-what are you babbling on about?" Sakura finally spoke, "We never want to see your face again!"
"Perhaps not…" The Oto-Nin said as if he knew a secret that the pinkette did not know, "but wishing won't chase me away."
Suddenly Orochimaru's neck extended and whipped toward them, too much like a serpent striking.
CHOMP!
Sakura gasped as she took a step back, finally free from the Sound-Nin's spell.
Orochimaru had sunk his fangs into Sasuke's pale flesh. He took a deep breath in, taking in Sasuke's fear-laden scent. He purred in delight, causing his prey to shudder at the vibration. Orochimaru could not resist to have a small taste of his prey, knowing that he would have the raven-haired teen soon enough. He moaned at the tangy-copper taste of the Uchiha's blood. Soon… The Oto-Nin promised himself as he pulled back, his lips caressing against Sasuke's warm flesh.
"I look forward to seeing you again, Sasuke…" Orochimaru tenderly whispered, "in your quest for power!"
"Wh-what…?" Sasuke groaned as he clutched onto his neck and collapsed to his knees, "Everything … hurts!"
Sakura glared at the retreating Oto-Nin.
"What did you do to Sasuke, oni!"
"Just a little something to remember me by…" Orochimaru cackled as he disappeared into the ground.
"AAUGH!" Sasuke cried as he curled into himself.
"Sasuke!" Sasuke knelt beside her one-time crush, trying to help ease the sudden pain that wrecked his lithe frame.
The raven-haired teen threw his head back, clawing at his head and face.
The pinkette immediately pulled his hands away, before he could gauge his own eyes out. As the Uchiha groaned and screamed in pain, Sakura murmured calming and soothing words into his ears. She ignored her own pain when Sasuke's grip became bone-crushing. She could feel her eyes sting with unshed tears when she noticed a strange three tomoe-pinwheel become the blackest of black at the base of his neck. Suddenly Sasuke's grip weakened as he slumped forward, falling into unconsciousness.
"Naruto…" She frantically called out, forgetting that her otouto was still hanging precariously on a tree, "Naruto… Sasuke is…" She swallowed her words as she finally saw the petite blonde, still unconscious.
Her heart thundered in her chest and ears.
She was all alone…
Stay tuned for the next chapter of Konoha no Yoko: Chuunin Exam come December 1, 2012.